Motorists were told to expect delays and avoid the area. (Image / NZTA)

Auckland traffic: Gas leak closes CBD street at rush-hour

Author: NZ Herald,
Publish Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2020, 4:24PM

A gas leak has forced the closure of a central Auckland street as rush hour approaches.

Lower Albert St, between Custom St and Quay St in the City Centre, was closed shortly after 3.13pm, when emergency services were called to the area.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand northern shift manager Daniel Nicholson says a workman struck a pipe, triggering a gas leak.

"We are in attendance with Vector, maintaining the area and making sure it's safe," Nicholson said.

"Three trucks are in there, using hoses to

control the gas."

There have been no reports of injuries of evacuations, Nicholson said.

Motorists have been warned to avoid the area and expect delays.

An Auckland Transport spokesman says some bus services were impacted outside the Commercial Bay shopping precinct.

"There's not a lot of traffic there at the moment, I think it's a bus only lane so a couple of bus services are stopping at an earlier stop," he said.

Auckland Transport says the 95 and 97 buses will be starting and finishing at stop 7036 on Fanshawe St near Victoria Park.

Bus riders should use NX1 services from downtown to connect to the 95 & 97 services at stop 7036.

LOWER ALBERT ST, AUCKLAND CITY – INCIDENT – 3:30PM
An incident has CLOSED a section of Lower Albert St between Custom St and Quay St in in the City Centre. Avoid the area if possible and expect delays to some bus services on this section of road. ^MF pic.twitter.com/WLKZvNVVkw
— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) October 22, 2020

Meanwhile a track fault in the Britomart tunnel forced the cancellation of the Onehunga train from the station this evening.

A rail shuttle will operate between Onehunga and Penrose for passengers, however the extra Eastern trains between Britomart and Panmure have been cancelled, AT says.

TRACK FAULT NEAR BRITOMART
There was a track fault in the Britomart Tunnel, this has quickly been resolved.
The Onehunga train is cancelled and a rail shuttle will operate between Onehunga and Penrose.
The extra Eastern trains between Britomart and Panmure are cancelled. ^EH pic.twitter.com/E4G78wLAmx
— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) October 22, 2020